The Homes of the UMMB
Our band's first home is the Old Chapel. We practiced there from 1960 until 1997 when it was condemed for being structurally unsound. The building was renovated and reopened in 2017. The first video on the left starting at 4:55 gives some history of the band in Old Chapel. The article linked below recounts alumni memories of Old Chapel.
After losing Old Chapel, the band's director George N. Parks advocated for the creation of the Marching Band Building. View the second video for the Mr. Park's speech at the groundbreaking for a new band building on October 15, 2009.
Finished in 2011, the GNP Minuteman Marching Band Building now hosts the marching band, concert band, pep band, and various other ensembles for practicing. Please view the last video for to learn about how we use the building for our marching band!
In 1998 the UMMB received the Sudler Trophy which recognizes collegiate marching bands of particular excellence that have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life
In 2013 the UMMB performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Spanning 2.65 miles, this parade gathered 3.5 million spectators and 50 million viewers!
In 2018 the UMMB performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade in California. It spanned 5.5 miles and had an audience of more than 700,000 spectators and 44 million television viewers! Later that same year, the band got to perform at halftime at the New England Patriots home opener, the first time the UMMB had played there in 25 years!
Building Power and Class
This is the 1994 documentary about the rise of the UMass Minuteman Marching Band program.